Family Size RTT *with* a T-top?

[R_Lefebvre]

Just wondering if I'm missing anything as I've been looking around and not finding what I'm looking for. I'm wondering if anybody is making a LARGE RTT that you can get a T-top, or at the very least a skirt for a lower room?

I have me, my wife, one 3 year old, and another one planned, so we need a large space. But I'd also like the convenience of having an enclosed area for changing, and maybe a potti.

I like the apparent quality of the Eezi-Awns, but the largest you can get a T-top is the 1600. Are there any skirts or anything available for the 2200? The platform is large enough that really all that would be needed would be a "shower skirt", though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

I really like the Globetrotter setup, as this is intended to go on a trailer, but at 80x60 it's just too small I think.

On a side note... Are the ladders on RTT's load bearing? Are they holding up the tent, or is the tent overhang held up by stretching the tent on the other side?

Oh yeah, lastly, are there any dealers of RTT in Canada? Wondering if there any way to avoid the HORROR of cross-boarder shipping.

[Martyn]

Just wondering if I'm missing anything as I've been looking around and not finding what I'm looking for. I'm wondering if anybody is making a LARGE RTT that you can get a T-top, or at the very least a skirt for a lower room?

I have me, my wife, one 3 year old, and another one planned, so we need a large space. But I'd also like the convenience of having an enclosed area for changing, and maybe a potti.

I like the apparent quality of the Eezi-Awns, but the largest you can get a T-top is the 1600. Are there any skirts or anything available for the 2200? The platform is large enough that really all that would be needed would be a "shower skirt", though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

I really like the Globetrotter setup, as this is intended to go on a trailer, but at 80x60 it's just too small I think.

On a side note... Are the ladders on RTT's load bearing? Are they holding up the tent, or is the tent overhang held up by stretching the tent on the other side?

Support for the overhang on the tent is through the two stainless steel hinges, the interlocking base extrusion, and the ladder.

I don't know of any larger T Top style tent bigger than 1600.

If you wanted a family tent with a skirt it could be special ordered.

[pskhaat]

though I realize the ladder would not provide direct access which would also be nice.

The 2200 has two ladders.

Are the ladders on RTT's load bearing? Are they holding up the tent, or is the tent overhang held up by stretching the tent on the other side?

Both, but yes the ladders are indeed load bearing.

[R_Lefebvre]

If you wanted a family tent with a skirt it could be special ordered.

Sounds expensive, and it would be more like a shower skirt, leaving the ladder exposed?

Regardless, I think I've come up with the perfect solution. I've been struggling with all these requirements for a while, but I had an epiphany in the shower this morning.

The trailer will look a lot like a Conqueror. The large fold down panel on the passenger side will be the kitchen area, with an awning over it. I'll probably use a 1600 T-top, opening to the driver's side. The large fold down panel on the driver's side will open up and hold flat and will be the kids sleeping area. They'll have a space maybe 48x48 that will be their own, this space will partially be on top of the fold down door, and partially IN the trailer. We'll be sleeping up above in the tent. Their space will be sheltered by the skirts from the T-top. It will also solve the problem of them being too high above the ground.

Make sense?

Is the lower section of the T-top completely weather proof and pretty much bug proof?

[Martyn]

Sounds expensive, and it would be more like a shower skirt, leaving the ladder exposed?

Regardless, I think I've come up with the perfect solution. I've been struggling with all these requirements for a while, but I had an epiphany in the shower this morning.

The trailer will look a lot like a Conqueror. The large fold down panel on the passenger side will be the kitchen area, with an awning over it. I'll probably use a 1600 T-top, opening to the driver's side. The large fold down panel on the driver's side will open up and hold flat and will be the kids sleeping area. They'll have a space maybe 48x48 that will be their own, this space will partially be on top of the fold down door, and partially IN the trailer. We'll be sleeping up above in the tent. Their space will be sheltered by the skirts from the T-top. It will also solve the problem of them being too high above the ground.

Make sense?

Is the lower section of the T-top completely weather proof and pretty much bug proof?

The T Top does not have a sewn in ground sheet, apart from that it's fairly tight.

[R_Lefebvre]

The T Top does not have a sewn in ground sheet, apart from that it's fairly tight.

That's probably ok I think. Should still keep most of the bugs out. Either that, or get a tent guy to make a little zip up awning thing over the fold down door.

Do the side panels just drape on the ground? How long are the panels? If the trailer were shorter than the panels, they'd just have a significant length draping on the ground?

[Martyn]

That's probably ok I think. Should still keep most of the bugs out. Either that, or get a tent guy to make a little zip up awning thing over the fold down door.

Do the side panels just drape on the ground? How long are the panels? If the trailer were shorter than the panels, they'd just have a significant length draping on the ground?

Well that returns us to the issue of using a T Top on a trailer. It's not an ideal situation as it's at chest height. The tent portion that goes over the ladder is supported by a solid horizontal hoop. The walls are 2 meters long (78.75") or 2.2 meters long (86.6"). The walls are designed to be dropped down of the top of a vehicle.

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, I knew they were designed to be higher, guess I should point out the trailer will be quite tall. The intent is to have the top of the RTT at about the same level as the top of my lifted Disco, so we're pushing 7 feet. That means the base of the tent will be about 6 feet. Maybe 5 1/2 feet minimum.

[Martyn]

Yes, I knew they were designed to be higher, guess I should point out the trailer will be quite tall. The intent is to have the top of the RTT at about the same level as the top of my lifted Disco, so we're pushing 7 feet. That means the base of the tent will be about 6 feet. Maybe 5 1/2 feet minimum.

166 lbs of tent at 6 feet.

Your trailer design is going to be interesting.

[R_Lefebvre]

How would it be much different than a truck with that up top? There will be weight down low, and I don't think the dimensions are much different than the Conqueror. It's 5 1/4 feet tall.

I supposed I could drop it to 1.5m, and go with a Globetrotter. I'm kind of undecided between the two approaches. I kinda like that the Globetrotter isn't folding, so all that complexity is gone. Does the Globetrotter have any of the places where bugs can get in like the other tents? ie: at the hinge closure, the doors, etc. How well is the lower section closed in compared to the T-tops?

If the trailer was 1.5m, exactly, and you parked in an area where the ground was gently sloping away, would you run out of fabric, or is there a little extra?

Any other significant differences from the T-top in construction or materials?

I do like that the Globetrotter would allow a quick easy peek at the kids below and probably a more stable feeling. However, it does seem to be 16" shorter which is a bit of a detriment.

Oh, and with either tent setup, can they be mounted directly to a metal surface, or do they have to be on some sort of rack so the bottom of the floor can "breathe"? If they need an air gap, would 1" square tube laid across in 4 places and welded directly to the sheetmetal work?